####018005779####
FZAK80 PAFC 032254

ICEAFC



Sea Ice Forecast for Western and Arctic Alaskan Coastal Waters 

National Weather Service - Alaska Sea Ice Program 

254 PM AKDT Wednesday 3 April 2024



FORECAST VALID...Monday 8 April 2024



ANALYSIS CONFIDENCE...Moderate.



SYNOPSIS...A western Bering Sea low continues to weaken as it moves 

north to the Bering Strait on Thursday. A strong low will move into 

the southwest Bering Sea on Friday and then to the eastern Bering 

Sea on Saturday and Sunday. High pressure enters the Bering Sea on 

Monday.



The main ice edge extends from near Egegik to 57 35’N 168 50’W to 56 

54’N 170 21’W to 60 52’N 178 53’W and continues in Russian waters. 

The ice edge is open water.



From land-based points in Alaska, the main ice edge extends from 

near Egegik to 50 nm northeast of Saint Paul Island to 20 nm 

southwest of St. Paul Island to 315 nm southwest of Gambell and 

continues in Russian waters. The ice edge is open water.



-BEAUFORT SEA-



PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ510-Eastern US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-

PKZ814-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ815-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point out to 15 nm-

PKZ860-Cape Halkett to Flaxman Island from 15 nm to 80 nm-

PKZ861-Flaxman Island to Demarcation Point from 15 nm to 75 nm-



Ice covered.



FORECAST FOR THE BEAUFORT SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 

confidence is high. Easterly to northeasterly winds persist through 

Saturday, and the ice pack is expected to move west 20 to 30 nm. For 

Sunday and Monday, winds shift northwesterly to westerly, which will 

inhibit westward movement of the ice pack.



-CHUKCHI SEA-



PKZ500-Western US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ505-Central US Arctic Offshore-

PKZ807-Wales to Cape Espenberg out to 15 nm-

PKZ808-Cape Espenberg to Motherwood Point out to 10 nm-

PKZ809-Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 nm-

PKZ810-Cape Krusenstern to Cape Thompson out to 15 nm-

PKZ811-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort out to 15 nm-

PKZ812-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin out to 15 nm-

PKZ813-Point Franklin to Cape Halkett out to 15 nm-

PKZ855-Kotzebue Sound greater than 10 nm-

PKZ856-Wales to Cape Thompson greater than 15 nm-

PKZ857-Cape Thompson to Cape Beaufort from 15 to 85 nm-

PKZ858-Cape Beaufort to Point Franklin from 15 to 85 nm-



Ice covered.



FORECAST FOR THE CHUKCHI SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast 

confidence is high. As a low continues to move to the Bering Strait, 

easterly winds will shift northerly on Thursday and then westerly 

from Saturday through  Monday. Expect sea ice to move with these 

winds overall. Sea ice will move away from the west and north facing 

coastlines with the easterly winds, then move back east toward the 

coast once winds shift to westerly.



-BERING SEA-



PKZ762-Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Peirce out to 15 nm-

PKZ763-Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 nm-

PKZ801-Etolin Strait to Dall Point out to 15 nm-

PKZ802-Dall Point to Kwikpak Pass out to 15 nm-

PKZ803-Kwikpak Pass to Cape Stephens out to 15 nm-

PKZ804-Cape Stephens to Moses Point out to 15 nm-

PKZ805-Moses Point to Sledge Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ806-Sledge Island to Wales out to 15 nm-

PKZ816-South side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ817-North side of Saint Lawrence Island out to 15 nm-

PKZ850-Etolin Strait to Kwemeluk Pass from 15 to 90 nm-

PKZ852-Norton Sound greater than 15 nm-

PKZ853-Kwemeluk Pass to Kwikpak Pass from 15 to 90 nm-

PKZ854-Sledge Island to Wales greater than 15 nm-

PKZ851-Southwest of Saint Lawrence Island from 15 to 100 nm-

PKZ767-Saint Matthew Island waters-

PKZ765-North and West of Nunivak Island-



Ice covered.



PKZ412-Bering Sea 171W to 180 and North of 56N-

PKZ414-Bering Sea East of 171W-

PKZ756-Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 nm-

PKZ758-Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef out to 15 nm-

PKZ760-Bristol Bay greater than 15 nm-

PKZ761-Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 nm-

PKZ764-Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 nm-

PKZ766-Pribilof Islands Nearshore Waters-



FORECAST FOR THE BERING SEA (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence 

is high. Southerly winds across most of the Bering Sea will shift 

westerly Thursday into Friday. From later Friday through Sunday, 

southerly winds return to the central and eastern Bering Sea and 

northerly winds to the western Bering Sea. For Sunday and Monday, 

winds across most of the Bering Sea will be northerly. Expect 

polynyas to form along southern facing coastlines as northerly winds 

return. Overall, expect the ice edge to retreat 30 nm to 60 nm 

through Saturday, then it will begin to advance 10 nm to 30 nm on 

Sunday and Monday. 



-COOK INLET-



PKZ730-West of Barren Islands including Kamishak Bay-

PKZ738-Shelikof Strait-

PKZ740-Cook Inlet North of Kalgin Island-

PKZ741-Kachemak Bay-

PKZ742-Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede-



The main ice edge extends from near the Susitna River Delta to Point 

Possession. The ice edge is open water.



FORECAST FOR COOK INLET (DAYS 1 through 5)...Forecast confidence is 

high. Air temperatures will be in the upper 20s to mid-30s through 

Monday and winds will remain fairly light through Monday. While most 

of the sea ice has melted throughout Cook Inlet, there may be 

periods especially during the overnight hours where new ice is able 

to form temporarily as water temperatures are still primed for sea 

ice formation. Any new sea ice formation will likely melt as 

temperatures climb near or above freezing.



&&

Schreck/Fenrich